Eaves trough with radiation absorbing attachment



P 21, 1965 l. J. WINTERFELDT 3,207,211

EAVES THOUGH WITH RADIATION ABSORBING ATTACHMENT Filed July 5, 1963 INVEN TOR.

/1///v-J WA/TEEFELD? United States Patent 3,207,211 EAVES TROUGH WITHRADIATION ABSORBING ATTACHMENT Irving J. Winterfeldt, 1537 Shemer Road,Northbrook, Ill. Filed July 3, 1963, Sel. No. 292,528 Claims. (Cl.165-47) This invention relates to an eaves trough with radiationabsorbing attachment.

In many areas, accumulations of ice in eaves troughs results incorrosion and other damage. Not only is the eaves trough subjected toexcessive weight but water is backed up and may cause the adjacent eavesor roof to rot. In aggravated situations, the water may even enter thebuilding to which the eaves trough is affixed.

I have discovered that relatively small tabs of metal of heat absorbingand conducting characteristics can be attached to an eaves trough atintervals of several feet in a projecting position to receive radiationfrom the sun or sky, the resulting heating of the trough beingsufiicient to melt ice and slush and promote the flow and discharge ofwater from the eaves trough. It is even practicable to use tubularrivets to fasten the heat absorbing tab to the eaves trough so that anylocalized melting of ice will cause immediate discharge of the resultingwater, thus keeping open that portion of the trough nearest to the tabto receive drainage from progressively more remote areas.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of the eaves ofa building and a length of caves trough equipped with radiationabsorbing tabs in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view in transverse section through theeaves trough and one of the rivets and a portion of one of the tabs, theremainder of the tab being shown in side elevation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

I have shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 a fragment of a typical eaves troughinstallation, the eaves being shown at 5, the roof boards at 7 and theshingles at 9.

The eaves trough 15 may be of any desired form in cross section. Asshown, the trough has an integral flashing extension at 17 and a bead 19in rectangular cross section by way of trim of its outer margin.

The bottom 21 of the trough has secured to it as by tubular rivets 23 orotherwise a plurality of radiation absorbing tabs 25 which are usuallyspaced along the trough as indicated in FIG. 1. In practice, these tabsare usually curved downwardly to a certain extent to expose upwardly andoutwardly the relatively broad and generally flat face 27 which absorbsheat.

It is preferred that the metal used to make the tabs 25 should not beshiny. A dull surface of dark color is better for absorbing heat than ashiny surface of any color. However, even a tab of weathered aluminumabsorbs a great deal of heat and conducts the heat to the bottom of thetrough. Sufiicient heat for the purposes of this invention iscommunicated to a trough on the north side of a building, as well as toa trough in an area which is exposed directly to the sun.

Many people assume that as snow melts in an eaves trough the resultingwater will immediately be discharged through the down spout. However, itmore often happens that as snow melts in an eaves trough the water isheld in suspension in the remaining snow to form slush, with progressivebuildup of ice as increments of slush freeze during the night, The snowmay act as a wick to pick up water from the bottom of the trough andprevent it from draining oif despite the fact that the trough is notfully obstructed by the snow.

With tabs applied to an eaves trough in accordance with ice the presentinvention, and at any appropriate distance such as 10 or 15 feet apart,sufficient increase in the temperature of the trough is created so thatthe snow in the trough near the tab is fully melted and the water isdrained off through the tubular rivet or otherwise, thus creating anopen space which progressively enlarges until the trough is clear.

Leaves which accumulate in eaves troughs tend to float past the smallholes provided by the tubular rivets. Consequently, leaves do not seemto obstruct drainage through these rivets.

There is nothing critical about the spacing nor the dimensions of thetabs. Small tabs as shown are very inconspicuous. They need not be baremetal. The surfaces 27 can be painted to match the trim of the eaves oradjacent portions of the house. A layer of paint may increase ratherthan decrease heat absorption by the tab.

It will also be understood that while I have found the tubular rivets tobe desirable, they are by no means an essential feature of theinvention. In fact, the tabs may be made as integral parts of the troughor may have soldered or other connection thereto. However, it isdesirable that the tabs be applied to the bottom rather than any otherpart of the trough and I have found the tubular rivet to be superior toany other form of connection because of the ancillary drainage itprovides. I have found that ordinary rain water will normally run alongthe bottom of the trough without overflowing through the rivet but if anobstructoin tends to cause water accumulation to any substantial depth,the excess over the height of the rivet will escape through the portwhich the rivet provides.

I claim:

1. The combination with an eaves trough, of a radiation collecting tabattached in heat conductive relation thereto and projecting outwardly ina generally horizontal direction for a suflicient distance from itsattachment to the trough to have a substantial exposure upwardly andhaving a broad heat absorbing surface exposed toward the sky, wherebysaid tab is adapted to deliver heat to the trough to melt ice and snowtherein.

2. The combination with an eaves trough, of a radiation absorbing tab inheat conductive connection with the bottom of the trough and projectingoutwardly in a generally horizontal direction from the trough with aheat absorbing surface sufiiciently remote from said connection with thebottom of the trough to be unshaded thereby, said surface facingupwardly, whereby said tab is adapted to deliver heat to the bottom ofthe trough to melt ice and slush therein.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said heat absorbingsurface is a non-shiny surface curving somewhat downwardly as well ashorizontally outwardly from the trough.

4. The combination with an eaves trough, of a radiation absorbing tab inheat conductive connection with the bottom of the trough and projectingoutwardly in a generally horizontal direction from the trough with aheat absorbing surface sufficiently remote from said connection with thebottom of the trough to be unshaded thereby, said surface facingupwardly, whereby said tab is adapted to deliver heat to the bottom ofthe trough to melt ice and slush therein, a tubular rivet providing saidconnection of the tab to the bottom of the trough and providing a drainoutlet from the trough.

5. The combination with an elongated eaves trough having a bottom, of aplurality of tabs spaced at intervals longitudinally of the trough andextending beneath the bottom thereof, each such tab having at least onetubular rivet extending through the bottom of the trough and connectingthe tab with the trough while providing an auxiliary outlet from thetrough through the rivet, the

several tabs projecting outwardly from the trough having exposedsurfaces adapted to absorb heat radiation and being of conductivematerial adapted to deliver heat to the bottom of the trough for themelting of ice and slush therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 824,570 6/06Myser et a1 50-9 page 60,

Spilsbury 50103 X Gay. Johnston 126271 Brunton. Andrassy 165133 X OTHERREFERENCES American Roofer and Siding Container, February 1961,

874,510 12/07 Johnston s0 4 10 CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

2. THE COMBINATION WITH AN EAVES TROUGH, OF A RADIATION ABSORBING TAB IN HEAT CONDUCTIVE CONNECTION WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUGH AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION FROM THE TROUGH WITH A HEAT ABSORBING SURFACE SUFFICIENTLY REMOTE FROM SAID CONNECTION WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUGH TO BE UNSHADED THEREBY, SAID SURFACE FACING UPWARDLY, WHEREBY SAID TAB IS ADAPTED TO DELIVER HEAT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUGH TO MELT ICE AND SLUSH THEREIN. 